Torn (Battlestar Galactica)

Infobox Television episode
Title = Torn


Caption = The Cylon Hybrid lies in her tank
Series = Battlestar Galactica
Season = 3
Episode = 6
Airdate = November 3, 2006
Production = 306
Writer = Anne Cofell Saunders
Guests = Lucy Lawless
Director = Jean De Segonzac
Episode list = Episode chronology
Prev = Collaborators
Next = A Measure of Salvation"Torn" is the sixth episode, following Collaborators (Battlestar Galactica), of the third season from the science fiction television series "Battlestar Galactica". This episode introduces the concept of a "hybrid" (see photo) which is a semi-organic computer which operates the Basestar and is believed by some models of Cylon to "be" the Basestar.

Plot

Survivor Count: 41,422.

Gaius Baltar is still aboard a Cylon Basestar while the Cylons debate whether or not to kill him. Number Six and Number Three reveal that the Cylons want to make Earth their new home, and Baltar is only being allowed to live because they feel that he may have some knowledge of how to find Earth. Baltar also inquires about the five Cylon models that remain unseen (out of the total twelve), and is told that the Cylons never discuss them, for unspecified reasons.

On "Galactica", the Colonial Viper crews are celebrating their largely successful evacuation of New Caprica. They praise Sharon Valerii Agathon, calling her "Boomer", but she rejects the flight handle because it referred to a different "Number Eight". After the pilots shout out a series of names — some traditionally insulting, like "Toaster" — they christen her "Athena". This is a reference back to the original Battlestar Galactica series, where Maren Jensen played the role of Adama's daughter, Athena. Colonel Tigh and Starbuck talk about how easy people aboard the "Galactica" had it compared to those who lived under the Cylon occupation of New Caprica. The argument about who was more loyal and who had sacrificed more for humanity creates discontent among the crew and greatly lowers the general morale.

Back on the Cylon Basestar, Gaius Baltar, through his interpretation of the Scriptures and his understanding of star charts, leads the Cylons to a "nebula shaped like a lion's head and a blinking eye." The blinking eye is a pair of pulsars, one which emits blue light, and the other red. When the Cylons dispatch a Basestar to investigate, all the Cylons onboard it become infected with a fatal virus. As the Cylons begin debating whether to risk another Basestar for a rescue mission, Baltar — hoping to ingratiate himself with the Cylons — volunteers to go aboard to investigate.

Once aboard the infected Basestar, he discovers that its crew had taken aboard a mysterious, ancient-looking canister. An infected Six explains that the canister was a trap left behind by members of the 13th Colony. She begins to call Baltar a murderer and fights Baltar until he is forced to strangle her.

Back aboard the original Basestar, Baltar reports that he found nothing of interest, neglecting to mention the canister. The Cylons heatedly debate what to do given that a rescue mission would possibly infect them all, and eventually a Number Three points out the only solution is to abandon the infected Basestar. Meanwhile, Caprica Six reviews Baltar's photos he took while investigating and discovers an image of the strange canister. Baltar had never brought the device up in his report.

Back at "Galactica", Captain Helo informs Admiral Adama of the effect Tigh and Starbuck's remarks have had on crew morale. Adama visits the rec area and orders everyone to leave except for Tigh and Starbuck. He asks for Starbuck's sidearm, loads it, and tosses it on the table in front of them. He then asks for either one of them to pick up the gun and shoot him. When the two give dumbfounded looks, Adama calls them both cowards for sowing discontent among the crew.

Starbuck snaps back to not expect an apology, to which Adama replies by pushing her out of her chair and telling her that she was once like a daughter to him, but not anymore. He tells her to learn to be an officer and human being again or find another place to live off "Galactica". After she leaves, Adama tells Tigh that he knows his behavior has something to do with the loss of his wife Ellen and he's sorry about it, but has a ship to run and no time for a one-eyed drunk to poison the crew with discontent. Adama offers Tigh whatever time he needs to deal with his problems and that he can stay in his quarters until he can be the man Adama has known for the past 30 years.

Tigh silently picks the weapon up, ejects the magazine and chambered round, and tosses the pistol to the table. He then tells Adama that man no longer exists, and he won't be seeing him around anymore, then leaves. Later, Felix Gaeta reconstructs Baltar's research concerning the location of Earth and also discovers the location of the nebula. Racetrack and Athena take a Raptor to investigate, and they discover the Cylon Basestar adrift in space. Racetrack informs Admiral Adama about their discovery while Athena quotes a passage of scripture under her breath.

Later, Starbuck is shown in the showers cutting off her long hair with a knife. She goes to visit Kacey and her mother in the hangar bay, and hugs Kacey. Tigh is shown in his quarters, drinking heavily and crying over photos of Ellen.

According to Ron Moore in his commentary for "Hero," the hybrid's use of the phrase "End of line" is a reference to "Tron".

External links

* at the Battlestar Wiki